Spatial correlations during Ostwald ripening—A simplified approach

Due to diffusional interaction between particles, spatial correlations naturally develop during the Ostwald ripening process. An analysis of particle coarsening, valid for low volume fractions of the precipitate phase, is presented which includes the effects of spatial correlations on the growth velocity. The present treatment examines the asymptotic late time limit. The form of the scaled particle size distribution and the volume fraction dependence of the rate constant are both in very good agreement with previous models and numerical simulations. In addition, a possible explanation for the discrepancy between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements of the scaled size distribution is discussed.